The Beach House

The Beach House
by Jane Green

Published in 2008. 352 pages.

Amazon link

Author's website

Genre: Fiction, "Chick Lit" ??( but so much more)

My overall score: 5/5

What its about (taken from amazon.com): Known in Nantucket as the crazy woman who lives in the rambling house atop the bluff, Nan doesn’t care what people think. At sixty-five-years old, her husband died years ago, her beauty has faded, and her family has flown. If her neighbors are away, why shouldn’t she skinny dip in their swimming pools and help herself to their flowers? But when she discovers the money she thought would last forever is dwindling and she could lose her beloved house, Nan knows she has to make drastic changes.

So Nan takes out an ad: Rooms to rent for the summer in a beautiful old Nantucket home with water views and direct access to the beach. Slowly, people start moving into the house, filling it with noise, with laughter, and with tears. As the house comes alive again, Nan finds her family expanding. Her son comes home for the summer, and then an unexpected visitor turns all their lives upside-down.

What I thought: The best book I have read so far this year! And that says a lot! I loved the writing style. The characters. The twists and turns along the way. I never wanted to put it down. I would rather read this than watch TV! In the very beginning, it was a bit tricky for me to remember who was who. But it quickly all came together and it was like I knew these people personally. I would love to read a follow-up story of where they are today!

A touching quote from page 332: "...the people with whom you surround yourself, the people you love, become your family. Whether there are blood ties or not."

I read a few of Green's earlier novels years ago, including 'Jemima J', 'Mr. Maybe' and 'Babyville' , but none of them remotely compare to 'The Beach House'!

Date finished: July 7, 2008

What I'm reading now: The Last Summer (of you and me) by Ann Brashares